Honest craftsmanship for a conscious and plastic-free home.
A family business with a passion for the sea for 130 years
The heart of our company beats in the depths of the sea. There, a good 40 meters below the surface, sponges grow – a true wonder of nature. With their silk-like texture, they are durable, versatile, and extra gentle on the skin. Our story begins with a fascination for these creatures:
In 1897, Gustav Croll and Theodor Denecke decided to import raw sponges from the Greek Mediterranean to Bremen and refine them by hand. We still do this today – but in the meantime, we have expanded our product range to include sustainable wellness and household products. We are Peter and Nina Hankiewicz-Brandes, the third and fourth generations of the company. Our mission: sustainable skin and body care products that feel good and are in harmony with nature.
Plastic-Free Alternatives
for Bath & Home
Since 1897
Quality & Experience
Represented
in over 50 countries
"Sustainability is a core part of our corporate culture."
– Nina Hankiewicz-Brandes
FAMILY HISTORY SINCE 1897
It was a long journey to get to that point. Others originally wanted to take the same path: At the time of its founding, Croll & Denecke was not alone with the idea of trading sponges. At that time, there were over a hundred companies in Germany. Only a few of them remain – many found no successors, others did not survive the wars. Croll & Denecke was spared both. In 1928, our grandfather joined the company, followed by our father, Peter Hankiewicz, in 1958. Since 2008, our daughter Nina Hankiewicz-Brandes has also been part of the management alongside Peter Hankiewicz.
HAND IN HAND FOR GENERATIONS
Family and business? Some say that doesn't go together. For us, it's different. As a family, we are strong, and that has always been the case. At Croll & Denecke, the third and fourth generations work successfully hand in hand – for a long time, we even did so under one roof. We learn from each other and grow together. This way, long-standing experience meets new ideas and impulses. This advances us as a company – and continuously improves our products and working methods.
We have been successful with this to this day: As a wholesaler for natural sponges, we are market leaders in Europe. We export our products from Bremen-Vahr to over 50 countries – and the number grows every year.
INSIGHTS INTO OUR WORK AND HISTORY
We rely on…
… the power of nature
We ourselves want to consume good things that are sustainable and last a long time. We stand for what we work for. This has proven itself: For generations, we have relied on the power of nature for our products. Our natural sponges are biodegradable, last for years with good care – and can be used in many ways, not just for skin care but also in the household. For our wellness products too, we rely on high-quality, skin-friendly, and sustainable materials. Do you have specific requests? Simply contact us.
… a gentle harvest
The gentle, sustainable harvesting of our natural sponges and the preservation of the ecological balance are important to us. We regularly verify this personally on site. Our trading partners only harvest in controlled areas and twice a year, when the sponges have reached a minimum size. The sponge roots always remain intact. The special feature: when cut, millions of seeds are released. As a result, the sponges always grow back.
… to alternative packaging
The impact of humans on nature is significant: delivered sponges are increasingly found to contain embedded plastic particles. To counteract this, a large portion of the packaging has already been replaced with sustainable alternatives. Although the goal of almost completely eliminating plastic has not yet been achieved for all products, around one tonne of plastic waste is already being saved annually. Individual customer requests are gladly accommodated.
… to long-term cooperation
What you nurture lasts a long time. This applies to our products as well as to our business relationships. We have worked successfully with many retail partners for generations. The same applies to our production employees in Bremen: many of them have been with us for over 25 years.
A holistic view of the individual is important to us. Diversity is welcome at Croll & Denecke: We are a colorful, diverse team.
THE ADVANTAGES OF A NATURAL SPONGE
Naturschwämme sind weich, vielseitig und bei guter Pflege langlebig. Das Video zeigt ihre besonderen Eigenschaften und gibt einen Einblick in die Verarbeitung und Anwendung dieses gewachsenen Naturprodukts.
